Forums > Windsurfing General

Hex screws for fins and footstraps.

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Created by leto > 9 months ago, 13 Nov 2021
ADinis
62 posts
26 Apr 2022 8:03PM
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Hello.
about fins.
i bought a new one board and on website they said tuttle box, but it comes with deep tuttle box.
i already bought 2 fins in tuttle box.

my question.

how much do i have to tight the screws?? Better to cut screws the way they stop and the bottom of the fin?
with that, the fin stop going up and up if i use short screws. and if i hit something. the fin goes up and no problem. maybe some screw will unscew.

another option is to use a piece of nylon to fill the gap between the fin and the top if the box, but with this way, if i hit something with the fin, it can break the top of the box.

thanks!!

Mark _australia
WA, 23447 posts
26 Apr 2022 9:12PM
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No need to shim it, just use it. The tight fit is on the front and rear edges so you can use tuttle in deep tuttle.

NOT with foils though, this is for fins.

What you u mean about screw length? You cut them so when they fully tightened they go all the way through the barrel nut - but not past it as the hole drilled into the fin is often not enough to fit extra screw length past the barrel nut. Maybe only a few mm

remery
WA, 3709 posts
26 Apr 2022 10:36PM
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With a new fin in my hand, I count the number of turns for the bolt to bottom out. Then fit and count as I tighten in place.

segler
WA, 1656 posts
26 Apr 2022 10:51PM
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Yes, my Cobra-built boards take 6x25mm torx T-30. PT (plastic thread)

My Roberts takes 5x25mm torx T-25. PT

I like torx precisely because it does NOT cam-out.

ADinis
62 posts
27 Apr 2022 6:42AM
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Select to expand quote
Mark _australia said..
No need to shim it, just use it. The tight fit is on the front and rear edges so you can use tuttle in deep tuttle.

NOT with foils though, this is for fins.

What you u mean about screw length? You cut them so when they fully tightened they go all the way through the barrel nut - but not past it as the hole drilled into the fin is often not enough to fit extra screw length past the barrel nut. Maybe only a few mm


what I did.

tight the fin until the head of the fin stays all inside and then with a caliper I measured the mm, was 66mm. I cuted the screw with 65mm length and then put one washer with rubber (brought it the board) and another 1.5mm washer to make sure it won't hit the bottom.

what I was trying to say (sorry my poor English), was, the depth is 66mm, I could cut with 67, put only one washer and the screw probably hit the bottom of the fin, with that, I could release the pressure on the head of the screw and in the screw box of the board also. lets say, the fin is "flying", its tight, but if I hit something with the fin, it won't unscrew and won't damage anything. I'm could be wrong...

otherwise while sailing I think is very hard to lost a fin because two screws wasn't tight enough...

thanks!!

Mark _australia
WA, 23447 posts
27 Apr 2022 9:06AM
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The barrel nuts in fins are cut slightly too big, the screw is designed to tear out if you hit something so you do not damage the board.

Unsure if that traditional way is the best now we have $400 fins.

segler
WA, 1656 posts
28 Apr 2022 11:00PM
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I have purchased these in lots of 32. I think they sell all the way down to 1.

You can also get 5x25 and 7x25 as well.

Grantmac
2317 posts
29 Apr 2022 1:44AM
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Select to expand quote
segler said..
I have purchased these in lots of 32. I think they sell all the way down to 1.

You can also get 5x25 and 7x25 as well.


I bought 500 6x25 so if you ever need some I'm happy to drop in the mail.
They are perhaps a touch short for one of my boards but excellent for others. Could also be the inserts were a bit tired on that board, I'll be doing some reconstruction.



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"Hex screws for fins and footstraps." started by leto